Aged care reforms to aid elderly

By
OLIVIA LAMBERT

OLDER people can alter a new aged care package to better suit their needs and give them more independence.

Aged care reforms to aid elderly

Albury Lutheran Aged Care Consumer Directed Care manager Emma Williamson and chief executive Wendy Rocks discuss a new aged care package which allows people to make choices about how they want to live independently at home. Picture: TARA GOONAN

OLDER people can alter a new aged care package to better suit their needs and give them more independence.

Albury’s Lutheran Aged Care chief executive Wendy Rocks said the Consumer Directed Care package, implemented by the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform, focused on older people’s quality of life and what they needed to stay at home.

“One might need help with shopping but not their washing, someone else might need help with both,” she said.

“Older people are assessed to see what their needs are and then can choose their own services within reason.”

She said the Border area had a greater percentage of people aged 80 or more.

“These packages are very relevant to this area because we can better help those people stay at home,” she said.

Lutheran Aged Care Consumer Directed Care manager Emma Williamson said it catered for people who needed different levels of care.

“The package has levels, one and two are for people who need a lower amount of care and levels three and four are for those who require a higher amount,” she said.

People over 65 can receive an aged care assessment to see if they are eligible to access it.

Lutheran Aged Care was allocated 51 packages from the NSW Department of Social Services.

Ms Williamson said 34 would be distributed around Albury and the other 17 would be shared between Corowa, Howlong and Muwala.

She is holding an information session on Friday at 3pm in the Granite Hall at Dellacourt on Nicholson Place in Albury.

“It’s an opportunity for people to ask questions and find out about the new package,” she said.